Description

Tulip Carnaval de Nice is a late-flowering double tulip cultivar, prized by professional gardeners and landscape designers for its massive peony-style blooms, boldly feathered in crimson over a creamy white base. Reaching 45–50 cm, the flowers offer a theatrical, painterly presence in May, extending the tulip season and providing structural bulk for late-season spring beds.

This cultivar is a staple in formal garden restoration projects, municipal spring displays, and high-end border design, where maximum floral impact and bold contrast are required. Its solid stems resist collapse in spring rains, while its longevity makes it suitable for cutting and for event-based installations such as civic ceremonies or garden shows.

Plant in full sun to light dappled shade, in deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soils. Ideal soil pH is neutral to slightly alkaline. Drainage should be enhanced in heavier Irish soils with sharp grit or organic matter. Deep planting (at least 15 cm) improves reliability and perennial return.

This tulip excels in formal schemes, parterre-style layouts, classic container displays, and floristry-cutting beds. It combines beautifully with Tulip Black Hero, Queen of Night, and late double narcissus like Sir Winston Churchill.

While not fragrant or a strong pollinator draw, its bloom time overlaps with late spring hoverfly activity, offering limited support when interplanted with nectar-rich companions.